9800702

Modular Device System Desense Reduction

PublishedOctober 24, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
15 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A modular device system including a base portable electronic communication device comprising: a chassis; a printed circuit board (PCB); a housing at least partially encompassing the chassis, having a display side and a reverse side, and having top, bottom and side edges, wherein one or more antennas are located along one of the top, bottom and side edges; a ground element exposed on the reverse side of the housing and being adjacent to the one or more antennas, the ground element being grounded to the chassis; a multi-pin connector array on the reverse side and being adjacent to the ground element such that the ground element lies between the connector array and the one or more antennas, the multi-pin connector array being configured and located to electrically connect to a mating array on a module device when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device; and one or more ground contacts linking the PCB to the chassis, providing a direct ground path between chassis and board ground.

Plain English Translation

A modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the ground element is an elongated metal bar positioned to mate with one or more grounded contacts on the module device when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device, such that there is a continuous ground path from the base portable electronic communication device ground to the modular device ground.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system described where the base device has a chassis, PCB, housing with antennas on an edge, a ground element on the reverse side grounded to the chassis next to the antennas, a multi-pin connector array adjacent to the ground element with the ground element between the array and antennas where the array connects to a module, and one or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis creating a direct path. In this version, the ground element is an elongated metal bar that mates with grounded contacts on the add-on module when connected. This creates a continuous ground path from the base device's ground to the module's ground.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The modular device system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the elongated metal bar is positioned between two rows of pins in the multi-pin connector array.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system described where the base device has a chassis, PCB, housing with antennas on an edge, a ground element on the reverse side grounded to the chassis next to the antennas, a multi-pin connector array adjacent to the ground element with the ground element between the array and antennas where the array connects to a module, and one or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis creating a direct path. Further, the ground element is an elongated metal bar that mates with grounded contacts on the module creating a continuous ground path. In this version, the elongated metal bar sits between two rows of pins in the multi-pin connector array.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The modular device system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the elongated metal bar comprises a plurality of tabs configured to electrically connect between the chassis and a back plate of the housing.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system described where the base device has a chassis, PCB, housing with antennas on an edge, a ground element on the reverse side grounded to the chassis next to the antennas, a multi-pin connector array adjacent to the ground element with the ground element between the array and antennas where the array connects to a module, and one or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis creating a direct path. Further, the ground element is an elongated metal bar that mates with grounded contacts on the module creating a continuous ground path. In this version, the elongated metal bar has tabs that electrically connect the chassis to a backplate of the housing.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The modular device system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the elongated bar is a spring loaded to apply outward pressure on the metal plate when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system described where the base device has a chassis, PCB, housing with antennas on an edge, a ground element on the reverse side grounded to the chassis next to the antennas, a multi-pin connector array adjacent to the ground element with the ground element between the array and antennas where the array connects to a module, and one or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis creating a direct path. Further, the ground element is an elongated metal bar that mates with grounded contacts on the module creating a continuous ground path. Here, the elongated bar is spring-loaded, applying outward pressure on a metal plate when the module is attached.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the ground element comprises a line of grounded contacts positioned to mate with an elongated metal bar on the module device when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. In this version, the ground element is a line of grounded contacts that mate with an elongated metal bar on the add-on module.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the ground element comprises a ground ring encompassing the multi-pin connector array of the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

A modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. The ground element comprises a ground ring encompassing the multi-pin connector array of the base portable electronic communication device.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The modular device system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the ground ring is configured to connect to a ring of pogo pins on the modular device when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. Here, the ground element is a ground ring encompassing the multi-pin connector array. This ground ring connects to a ring of pogo pins on the modular device when the module is attached.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas are located along one of the top edge and bottom edge of the housing.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. Here, the antennas are on the top or bottom edge of the housing.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas are located along one of the side edges of the housing.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. In this version, the antennas are located along one of the side edges of the housing.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a metal plate overlying the multi-pin connector array and having a plurality of holes there though such that the pins of the multi-pin connector array remain exposed on the reverse side of the housing.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. It also includes a metal plate overlying the multi-pin connector array, with holes allowing the pins to remain exposed on the housing's reverse side.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The modular device system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the plurality of holes are configured to leave space between a subset of the pins and the metal plate.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. Further, a metal plate overlies the multi-pin connector array with holes for the pins. The holes are configured to leave space between some pins and the metal plate.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The modular device system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the metal plate is electrically connected to the chassis.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. Further, a metal plate overlies the multi-pin connector array with holes for the pins. The metal plate is electrically connected to the chassis.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one puck on one of the module device and the base portable electronic communication device and at least one magnet on the other of the module device and the base portable electronic communication device, wherein the at least one puck and the at least one magnet are positioned such that they are in contact and form a ground path when the module device is mated to the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. This system also has at least one puck (on either the module or base device) and at least one magnet (on the other device). The puck and magnet are positioned to contact each other and form a ground path when the module and base are connected.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The modular device system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a conductive adhesive forming at least a portion of a ground shield between the pins and one or more antennas of the base portable electronic communication device.

Plain English Translation

The modular device system includes a base portable electronic communication device with a chassis, PCB, and housing. The housing has a display side, reverse side, and edges. Antennas are located along one of the edges. A ground element on the housing's reverse side, next to the antennas, is grounded to the chassis. A multi-pin connector array on the reverse side is adjacent to the ground element, placing the ground element between the connector array and antennas. This array connects electrically to a mating array on an add-on module. One or more ground contacts link the PCB to the chassis, creating a direct path between the chassis and PCB ground. The system further includes a conductive adhesive that forms at least part of a ground shield between the pins of the connector and the antennas of the base device.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

October 24, 2017

Inventors

Vimalkaushik Natarajan
Mubeen Ahmed
David Lim
Paul L Fordham
Mark Janninck

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